The Experiment: Part Three

The mostly empty bottle of Shiner bock burst like wet brown light bulb on the passenger side front door handle. Foamy shards of glass sprayed the windshield, dashboard, the pavement outside the jeep, and Billy.

NOW WON’T SOMEBODY TELL ME WHAT’S WRONG

TELL ME WHAT’S WRONG WITH ME!!!

For several seconds, the three of them sat in the stationary car, startled by the impact of the bottle and the ear splitting volume of the car stereo. Rich’s Blue Cheer disc thundered out of the speakers a split second after Dave threw the bottle at Billy.

“What’d you throw at me?” was the first thing that came out of Billy’s mouth when the stunned shock wore off.

“A BOTTLE OF SHINER BOCK, YOU JUNKIE PIECE OF SHIT, NEXT TIME YOU TALK LIKE THAT ABOUT MY FAMILY, I WON’T MISS.”

Rich saw an opening in the stream of cyclists to his right and gunned the engine. He made a quick turn into the parking lot of a Circle K and came to a jerky stop.

“Both of you assholes are gonna clean this up and start playing nice.” Rich abruptly got out of the Cherokee. “Jeezus Kah-RIST!! Can’t we just get our shit together for once in our lives?" He slammed the door, moved toward the sliding doors of the Circle K, paused and turned back.

CAUSE LORD, I BEEN SEARCHIN’

SEARCHIN’ SO LONG

OH, WON’T SOMEBODY

OH, WON’T SOMEBODY

TELL ME WHAT’S WRONG WITH ME??

‘Out of Focus’ by Blue Cheer continued to blare out of the open windows of the jeep in the parking lot. Dave and Billy sat inside, making threats neither of them could hear.